Aishwarya Rai and Manisha Koirala were among the most celebrated actresses of the 1990s, reigning over Bollywood with their beauty, talent, and powerful performances. The decade was marked by intense rivalries, sensational headlines, and high-profile gossip.
One of the most talked-about controversies of that era was the alleged love triangle involving Manisha Koirala, model Rajeev Mulchandani, and Aishwarya Rai, which fueled endless speculation in the industry.
Aishwarya Rai-Manisha Koirala controversy
Reports suggest that Manisha Koirala once accused her then-boyfriend, Rajeev Mulchandani, of being secretly involved with Aishwarya Rai after allegedly discovering love letters exchanged between them.
However, Aishwarya did not remain silent on the matter. She publicly addressed the rumours, expressing her shock and disappointment over the allegations.
In an old interview, Aishwarya Rai had once revealed that she had originally planned to compliment Manisha Koirala for her performance in the 1995 film Bombay. However, her intentions changed when she learned that Manisha had involved her in a controversy.
Manisha accused Aishwarya of cheating
Aishwarya Rai recalled that after watching Bombay, she was highly impressed with Manisha Koirala's performance and had even considered sending her a bouquet as a gesture of appreciation. " On April 1st, Rajeev happened to call me, and I excitedly told him how much I admired Manisha’s performance. That’s when he laughed and asked if I had been reading the papers. He informed me that Manisha had claimed to have found love letters from him to me. I couldn’t believe it! It was a very rude shock," added the actress.
Aishwarya Rai's reaction to the allegations
The former Miss World questioned the timing of the allegations, wondering why the claims hadn’t surfaced earlier if they were true. She pointed out that if Rajeev and Manisha’s breakup had been due to this reason, there was no explanation for the nine-month delay in bringing it up. She also mentioned that Manisha repeatedly defended herself, insisting that she had been misquoted.
"This Manisha episode really affected me a lot in the beginning. I cried like crazy. I was really hurt miserably by all that was happening around me," the actress further added.
On the work front, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan was last seen in the 2023 Tamil film Ponniyin Selvan II. Meanwhile Manisha Koirala appeared in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's much talked-about film Heeramandi.
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